Terese A. Drew

Terese Drew is the Partner-in-Charge of the firm’s St. Louis office. She was the Co-Leader of Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP’s Personal Injury and Property Damage Practice Group. Ms. Drew is a past co-leader of the firm’s Defense Litigation Department and a past member of the firm's Executive Committee.

Her assignments routinely include the representation of manufacturers in products liability claims, commercial transportation companies, municipalities, amusement/leisure industry manufacturers and retailers, as well as professional liability insurers. Her medical negligence matters have an emphasis on emergency physicians.

In January 2009, Ms. Drew was voted a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and served as the President of the Missouri/Southern Illinois Chapter from 2014 – 2015. She was the first woman President in the Chapter's history.

Professional Background

Ms. Drew’s work experience began in 1984 with a clerkship at the Missouri Court of Appeals for the Honorable Carl R. Gaertner. She joined Hinshaw in September 1987.

A member of the Missouri State Bar Association, she served for three years on the Board of Governors and for eight years on the Young Lawyers Section Council. Ms. Drew is also a member of the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis. Her litigation practice is reflected in such professional affiliations as the Defense Research Institute, the Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers, the Transportation Lawyers Association and the International Amusement & Leisure Defense Association.

Since January 2006, Ms. Drew has been an Adjunct Professor at Saint Louis University School of Law teaching trial advocacy.

Professional Affiliations

American Board of Trial Advocates, Missouri/Southern Illinois Chapter, President (2014–2015)

Honors & Awards

Included in "The Best Lawyers in America®" in the area of Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants (2015–2017).

Holds the AV® Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, its highest rating for ethics and legal ability.

Representative Matters

Ms. Drew has tried cases throughout the states of Missouri and Illinois, as well as in the federal courts of both states. In addition to her trial practice, Ms. Drew has written and argued appellate briefs before all Appellate Courts in Missouri, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Missouri Supreme Court.

Upon conclusion of a clerkship at the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District in 1985, Ms. Drew’s civil trial work has focused on litigation for a variety of entities, including AT&T, Stevens Transport, New Prime, Inc., Travelers Insurance Company, National Guardian Risk Retention Group. The Hartford and Metro. In addition to her trial experience, Ms. Drew has written and argued over 30 appellate briefs before all Appellate Courts in Missouri the Missouri Supreme Court and the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Dwiggins v. City of Chesterfield, Department of Police, et al., Circuit Court St. Louis County, Missouri. (Employment discrimination, sexual harassment and retaliation.) Plaintiff, a police officer with the City, alleged that a sergeant had made sexually harassing statements and reported the action to her captain. Following a full internal investigation, there was no conclusive evidence. Plaintiff alleged as a result of her complaint, the sergeant stared and leered at her at work and in the parking lot. She claimed the City gave her difficult assignments, poor reviews and no raise because of her complaint. A directed verdict was entered for the sergeant and a defense verdict for the City.

Hill v. United Exposition, Circuit Court, Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, March 2008. (Comminuted fracture of ankle and rotator cuff tear. Result: 100% defense verdict.) Plaintiff was on an amusement ride and descended a slide, striking her foot at the bottom. Defendant maintained Plaintiff took off her shoes, threw them down the slide and hit the shoe when she landed. Plaintiff claimed wage loss of $30,000, medical specials of $32,682.62. Plaintiff asked the jury for $250,000. Defense verdict.

Gloria Brown v. Dr. Dana Day, Circuit Court, St. Francois County, Missouri, October 2007. (Failure to diagnose and treat claim for $2 million.) Plaintiff alleged failure to diagnose and treat vascular compromise of leg in emergency room, resulting in an above-knee amputation. Jury demand by Plaintiff of $2 million plus money for future pain and suffering. The jury returned a 100% verdict for the defense.

O’Hare v. BJC Health System, Circuit Court of St. Louis City, Missouri, August 2007. (Wrongful death claim for $2.9 million. Result: 100% defense verdict.) Plaintiff alleged wrongful death and failure to diagnose a septic knee and properly treat patient with sepsis in multiple visits and telephone call to the emergency room. Settlement demand of $1 million. A settlement offer of $200,000 was made (withdrawn at start of trial). Verdict was returned 100% in Defendants’ favor.

Nuspl v. Oakley, Circuit Court, St. Louis County, Missouri, November 2006. (Traumatic head injury, more than $2 million. Result: 100% defense verdict.) Plaintiff alleged that Defendant tractor trailer crossed the center line, hitting his tractor trailer and causing him to hit a tree. Plaintiff sustained a closed head injury. Demand of $850,000. Verdict was returned 100% in Defendant’s favor.

Lovelace v. Sodexho, (Circuit Court Jackson County, Kansas City, Missouri) November, 2005. (Personal injury action. Plaintiff patient in the hospital asserted that he ate bad clam chowder and as a result of contracting some type of gastroenteritis, suffered a deterioration of his multiple sclerosis and claimed wage loss and worsening of his medical condition, Plaintiff asked jury for excess of $20 million; Result: Parties settled during day two of deliberations.) Plaintiff was a patient in the hospital for hemorrhoid surgery. He and his wife alleged that they were served clam chowder (New England style) and after eating the clam chowder, both alleged diarrhea, vomiting and symptoms of gastroenteritis. Plaintiff Lovelace was hospitalized for approximately one week with this condition and then discharged. Plaintiff alleged that he sustained a worsening of his multiple sclerosis because of this period of deconditioning. He claimed that he was able to walk and be completely active prior to this incident and following the latter, was now confined to a wheelchair. Defendants maintained that the clam chowder was not contaminated and that there was no evidence that the Plaintiff had a food borne illness. Moreover, Defendants maintained that the condition of multiple sclerosis is degenerative in nature and that the waxing and waning and periods of deconditioning were consistent with the disease process.

Darden v. Bi-State Development Agency d/b/a Metro, (Circuit Court City of St. Louis, Missouri) October, 2005. (Personal injury action. Plaintiff, a minor at the time, was a passenger on the Bi-State bus and exited the bus and alleged that the driver signaled her that it was safe to cross the street, and Plaintiff was struck by the Co-Defendant. Plaintiff sustained significant orthopedic injuries as well as an injury to her eye. Plaintiff asked jury to award between $750,000 and $1.2 million; Result: Defendant’s verdict.) Plaintiff was a minor girl passenger on a bus. The bus stopped at a bus stop and she and two friends exited the bus. Plaintiff claimed the bus driver looked in his side mirror and signaled her to cross the street. She also indicated that the driver signaled her a second occasion after checking the mirror. As she stepped out, she was struck by the co-Defendant’s vehicle. Plaintiff sustained significant injuries, both orthopedic and to her eye. After deliberating a day, the jury returned a verdict in favor of all Defendants.

Self v. Brunson, et al, (Circuit Court City of St. Louis, Missouri) June, 2005. (Personal injury action. Plaintiff standing at the bottom of a loading dock was struck and pinned by his left shoulder by a backing tractor trailer being operated by Defendant Brunson, resulting in injury to Plaintiff’s shoulder and subsequent surgeries; Result: Defendant’s verdict, 0 percent fault assessed to both parties, case is presently on appeal.) Plaintiff was a tractor trailer driver who was at a dock picking up sound equipment. Defendant Brunson was also a tractor trailer driver at the same dock loading additional equipment. Plaintiff, unknown to Defendant Brunson, went behind his tractor and was “spotting” as he backed into the dock area. The doors on Defendant’s truck opened and pinned Plaintiff against the dock. Plaintiff sustained injury to his shoulder resulting in surgeries and alleged inability to act as a stage hand. Plaintiff asked the jury for $2.1 million. The jury returned a verdict with 0 percent fault assessed against all parties. Plaintiff has appealed.

Ebling v. USA Truck, (United States District Court, Western District of Missouri) April, 2005. (Personal injury action. Plaintiff driver of a tractor trailer was struck in the rear by the USA Truck tractor/trailer. Plaintiff claimed injury to his back and shoulder resulting in shoulder surgery being performed and inability to act as an over-the-road tractor trailer driver, Plaintiff asked jury for over $750,000; Result: Jury verdict for plaintiff $241,000). Plaintiff was driving a tractor trailer which was stopped on I-70 westbound due to traffic. Our tractor trailer driver attempted to stop; however, was unable to do so and struck the rear of the tractor trailer. There was virtually no damage to Plaintiff’s vehicle. Plaintiff drove to St. Joseph, Missouri and then sought medical treatment. After a period of conservative treatment, Plaintiff underwent shoulder surgery and subsequent hernia surgery, which he claimed were both related to the accident. As a result of the latter Plaintiff was off work and claimed he could no longer act as an over-the-road truck driver. Evidence was introduced that the brake lines on the USA Truck tractor were damaged and not working at the time. USA Truck maintained that they were in proper order at the last inspection prior to the accident.

Richka v. American Family Insurance Company, (Circuit Court City of St. Louis, Missouri) April, 2004. (Breach of contract, bad faith claim. Plaintiff alleged that the insurance carrier failed to settle a personal injury action within their policy limits, thus exposing them to an excess verdict of $1.7 million; Result: Jury returned verdict in favor of Plaintiff; however, Defendants had previously entered into a high/low agreement.) Plaintiff was insured by American Family Insurance Company. A driver of one of Plaintiff’s cleaning vans had a minor impact rear-end collision. The Plaintiff in the underlying case sought no initial treatment and subsequently claimed a closed head injury resulting in inability to work and numerous neurological and neuropsychological testing being performed. A trial took place in the Circuit Court of the City of St. Louis and a jury awarded Plaintiff in the underlying case $1.7 million. Plaintiff’s attorney claimed that a settlement demand in the amount of $250,000 had been made and rejected by the insurer. The insurer maintained that there was never a firm offer to settle the case but rather a recommendation by Plaintiff’s attorney but no indication that his clients would accept the latter. The jury returned a verdict in favor of Plaintiff; however, a high/low agreement between the parties had previously been entered.

Presentations

Ms. Drew has lectured frequently, speaking on a variety of litigation topics. Among the subjects of her presentations are:

Defending the Insurer in a Bad Faith Claim

Managing Risks & Handling Claims

Slip & Fall Cases in Missouri: New Case Developments

So You've Been Sued, What to Do About it? (relating to the amusement industry)